A scoping review of studies on dissociative and conversion disorders in India

Psychological, social, and cultural factors influence the development of dissociative and conversion disorders. India, with its diverse cultural beliefs and socioeconomic disparities, provides a unique setting for studying the clinical presentations of these disorders.

This scoping review synthesizes literature on dissociative and conversion disorders in India, focusing on their sociodemographic and clinical features, etiological factors, and key findings.

An extensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies conducted in India between 2000 and 2024.

Ninety-eight studies that met the selection criteria were included in this review. Most studies included in this review were cross-sectional, from North India, and involved adults with fewer than 50 participants, with an overrepresentation of females. The prevalence of dissociative and conversion disorders is higher among young married women of rural domicile belonging to a low socioeconomic status. The common clinical presentations were pseudoseizures, paralysis, and trance. The key etiological factors identified were childhood trauma, family dysfunction, and psychosocial stress. Psychiatric comorbidities included depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality issues. Cultural and religious beliefs strongly influence both symptom presentation and treatment-seeking behaviors. Sociodemographic, cultural, and psychosocial factors substantially influence the clinical presentation of dissociative and conversion disorders.

These findings underscore the need for a culturally sensitive, multidisciplinary approach to address these factors. Future prospective research is needed to assess long-term outcomes and explore the neuropathophysiological mechanisms underlying these disorders.